Would like to see the dovetailing and drawer construction....but you're right, it's oak and of that famous "golden oak" period a very nice graceful example.
Likely from 1900...give or take 10 years. Lovely condition, appears to have all the original brasses.
not really high boy...but more a gentleman's dresser...likely there would have been a lower chest of drawers with a matching mirror and a bed...or maybe 2 ..and bedside tables.
If you paid less than $350 you did very well...$450 you got a good buy, $600 you paid about what a good shop would charge.
Linda C

My wife and I paid $360 for the dresser at auction. We hope to expand our collection. The wood is actually fairly dark. I would not describe it as "golden." Perhaps it was at one time?

Here are four pictures of one of the drawers, per your request.

-Erik

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Pretty piece -- I love the corner trim down the sides of the front. It definitly has a bunch of "solid oak" in it. Be very careful here though -- FROM THE PICTURES ONLY (they are great pictures) what I surmise is this -- the grain patterns looks very-very pronounced and repetitory. This MAY (can't tell exactly without a "in person" look see) be the old "painted on" or imitation quarter-sawn pattern. If you were to try to strip and "restore" this piece, what MAY happen is your quarter-sawn pattern will disapear before your eyes with the help of stripper. BE CAREFUL or just leave it alone if not sure. The furniture manufacturers of past used to sell this as "imitation quarter-sawn. It was actually advertised this way in the old catalogs of Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Wards an others (I Have a brittle copy of the 1905 Sears)
Also, it is Not a "Gentleman's dresser
' ) these were always a two level piece with a hatbox? on half with a mirror above it.
The original catalogs that I have call this a "chiffonier" -- problem is that all pictures in catalogs I have show a small mirror mounted on the top. I don't see any obivious old screw holes where one was mounted on your piece -- but this does not mean there wasn't one.
AS far as what to call it -- call it a nice piece of old furniture --or-- I would call it a chest of drawers.
Just remember the "maybe fake quarter-sawn" could be painted on the nicest "straight grain oak" possible, as the old shops had nicer raw materials to work with.
Just my two cents worth.

Second set of picts tell the story -- IT is a painted on -imitation pattern over solid oak. Look at drawer #4 from the top -- you can see the two oak boards where they are joined -- the imitation quarter-sawn pattern crosses the joint -- IMPOSSIBLE IN NATURAL OAK -- Still a solid oak piece -- worth what you paid -- even here in Missouri!!

Painted on grain, "imitation oak" is worth many many times the price of "real " oak.
I will bet the moon that that chest is not imitation anything...
As for the term "gentleman's dresser"...That's become a catch term for those side by side, mirror and chamber pot cupboard stuff.
A Gentleman's dresser refers to the chest of drawers most often used by the man of the house. Newer antiques dealers refer to the piece you show as a "high boy"..but for many years the term has referred to a piece on tall legs...as opposed to a low boy...also a piece on tall legs but with only about 3 drawers.
I have no idea what Mizzou is talking about. The inside of the drawers plainly shows they are solid oak.
Linda C

Please read my post a little better Linda -- I clearly state the piece is "solid oak". And If you cannot see the joint on drawer #4 down from the top of the piece, and how the "painted on grain" clearly crosses the joint in the wood -- Then I just can't comment on your "experience" with old furniture!!
I just see what is obivious to my eyes.
Also if you do a search on ebay on "gentleman's dresser"

you will see an oak one and a fancier mahogany piece. I am not sure of their description on the mahogany piece.
I have rescued two of these "gentleman's dressers -- One had a matching bed and standard dresser-- set of three pieces. Sorry I sold the set but I just love restoring this old stuff!!
P.S. I bet my house on another "dispute" with you -- bet something real-- (moon??) or don't bother "betting!!

I DO see what you are seeing....and agree. A Faux graining....very desirable, if it's original.
But have never seen that done in a solid oak piece. Faux grain on pine or poplar but never an oak grain painted on an oak piece...Hmmm?
Linda C

I've never seen this finish before either, but it's nicely done & unless one looks closely, it's pretty convincing, much more than most painted "oaks". Anyway, it fooled me at firest glance. A cool piece.

That's what I've always known as "gentleman's dresser", too. I have my grandparent's bedroom suite from the same era. The man's bureau is taller, with a handsome mirror (2 small drawers side by side and then 4 more below, all the same size). The woman's bureau is deeper and lower. There are two smaller drawers side by side, and 3 drawers below; all large and deep. In mahogany veneer. The mirrors are deeply bevelled.

I suspect the piece is not faux grained. Oak was very commonly used at the time (it was inexpensive), and perhaps they used veneer over a solid oak frame?

Someone wanted to see the dovetailing from the drawers. Here is a photo.

Does your original estimate of its value stand? Do you still consider it to be worth around $600?

-Erik

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$350 wouldn't get you a modern solid wood dresser.

It looks good and should make yuo happy.

Easily!...it's machine made...but..IF it's original, that faux graining is worth a lot.
However...it appears to have no wear to the finish....and that puzzles me. So if the faux graining is NOT original...that reduces the value.
However, you would look a long time to find something as good looking for $600.
Linda C

Oh, make no mistake, the finish is not perfect. There is wear on the finish that doesn't show up on the grainy photograph. You can see the wear better when the sun is shining directly on it. Blah.

-Erik

Friends,

I call a piece of furniture what very similar pieces were called in the original mail order catalogs. Ya'all can call them whatever you like. I have 3 original catalogs that I picked up at some farm auctions and that's what I go by. I have restored and refinished hundreds of oak, walnut, cherry (not many) and "wonderwood" (pieces -- where you wonder what the heck is that wood) in the last 28 years. Wife (of 37 years --same one) and I got into this "fun" cause we could not afford new furniture when we got out of the U.S. Air force. Soon we discovered that this "old junk" held its value much more than new furniture. We have a house full of "it" and so do my three grown children. This always -been a hobby !This is where I am coming from (also Missouri- home)-- I just like to help anyone with questions about old/ antique furniture. I will never say something I am not sure of -- If not sure -- I will tell you so.,
This is me -- take my advise as you want -Thanks Mark--

How much of this terminology is regional? I'm from Missouri and my mom always called pieces this size highboys.

The link below has a picture of a similar piece. It also has one of those parlor tables from another post.

Gloria

Here is a link that might be useful: highboy chest